Peter Hammill is my favorite lyricist and one of my top 5 favorite artists. Been a fan since 1989 when his back catalog albums started to become available on CD. You should do his song Flight from A Black Box. 19 minutes of pure Hammill bliss.
I agree that a review of his song "Flight" would be terrific. It is long, but rich in both style and substance. Personally, I think you will love it, JP! 😎
PH has an incredibly vast solo catalog, probably around 40 albums now. There is very little of it that is not of great quality, but I am an admitted fanboy of the highest order. For a real interesting listen, his opera based on Poe's The Fall Of The House Of Usher is fascinating.
I've just realized one thing. This song was first recorded in the first vdgg album. (It was in fact a PH solo album, but due to contractual reasons, it must be put out under vdgg name. Even though all the members are there, which does not happen here...) There, it was possibly a break-up love song. But now, it achieves a new meaning. And I think he chose it for one reason: the album is dedicated to his brother because - the wiki page doesn't explain it - during the recording, he had an accident and stayed in coma for some days. And this is the reason, the basis - I think - that will explain how dark, philosophical and claustrophobic this album is. It seems Peter Hammill got what he was asking for to write and compose such a unique album: Death and it's imminence. PH is not a lyricist, he is more than a musician, he is a Poet. With capital letter. You are now warned, JP. Sorry. Or Prepare yourself.
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! This is one of his very best solo albums. Definitely one of the best early ones, behind Silent Corner. It's a great choice. But when you do get back to VDGG, the debut is worth the listen for historic value, but you MUST hear The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, it's arguably one of their best, and a personal favorite. It's a change of flavor from the Godbluff trilogy, less epic with shorter songs, but violins and cellos, jazzy influences, and amazing songwriting. I think you'd love it - even more than In Camera, and certainly more than Aerosol Grey Machine. Think on it. In the mean time, enjoy this one - it's a real mind-bending workout, and a real treat! What a lovely lilting heart-tugging haunting opener this song is, so beautiful (I think ferret and featherbird are little personal totem characterizations of the lovers depicted in the song) - but get ready for some dark dirty psychedelia though...
Agree. SZ/PD is a great album, despite not having Banton and Jaxon. Graeme Smith and Charles Dickie fill in perfectly, and all the songs are first class (great to have Nic back too). PH performed many of them throughout the 80s/90s in his solo shows.
I approve and second these observations/recommendations. 'Quiet Zone' is a genre unto itself, and is one of their best. Oh, 'Vital' awaits as well. "We are the PiONEERS!!!"
I don't agree at all, David. QZ/PD may be a good album, and it is in his own and new approach, but it stays far behind, even from their second less best album (to me) : World Record. 😊
One Hammill LP that doesn’t get enough love is his 1977 "breakup album", Over, maybe his strongest solo work front to back. I wouldn’t want to derail you from doing In Camera, but Over would be a good next listen!
Do you like storytelling songs? There are two songs by a singer and composer called Chico Buarque here in Brazil that are linked and available on RUclips with on-screen translation, which is better because the focus is on the lyrics and the song accompanies them. The first is 'DEUS LHE PAGUE', a song with tense instrumentation and as it grows, it becomes dissonant with the orchestration and voices. The second is 'CONSTRUÇÃO', he tells a story as a chronicler, and each time he repeats the same story, it becomes more surreal, ending in the first song. Both are a type of Brazilian folk, with a mix of samba and bossa nova and orchestral arrangements, and the context is the shadow of a dictatorship in which the people are oppressed and have little value. Something different to react to, if you want. And thanks for the fantastic reactions!
Thanks a lot, and happy to see you're back to PH! When I am in the mood for this album, I rarely listen to the first few pieces, although your reaction has kind of renewed my appreciation for this first one in particular -- it is just beautiful. There are some emotional rollercoasters coming up. Absolutely do listen to the BBC "live" versions of some of them, which is PH at his incredible best.
Have been a PH fan since '71. No one else like him. Nice to see this review. Back when you were doing a lot of Hammill Stuff, there was one song that you left out (I'm pretty sure). He did a song called Easy to Slip Away. It's actually a companion piece to VDGG's Refugees. Thanks for giving attention to a singer who deserves it.
At last! Weirdly enough I was thinking of mithering you again today by posting a comment on whatever you were reacting to asking when you were going to get round to do this great, great album... but no need, because here we are! I'm glad you like the first, and weakest, track. It is a gentle intro into a devastating piledriver of album.
Interesting that you should pick this album shortly after listening to Bowie’s - the Man Who Sold the World. Bowie’s album was recorded at the time his brother was undergoing intense psychiatric care while Hammill’s brother at the time of recording In Camera, was in a coma after having suffered an accident on his bike. Both albums are the two artist’s reactions to their brother’s plights.
Just another aspect, just one more and I'll shut my fingers up, I promise. Since you mentioned the cover: the album cover is great, but to me the spirit of the album is best showed by the back cover photo. I wish I someday have a poster of it, a big poster to cover the wall. 😊 (it's THAT significant)
Oh! I thought you had done this one but maybe it was someone else stunned by the closing Gog Magog (In Bromine Chambers) Meanwhile, this album, though once again challenging for the uninitiated, is one of his best. I love the basic song here and it's made even more interesting by the barely connected guitars/piano backing. In my dreams I nail a karaoke version of this track but how likely is that? (My other 'karaoke dreams' include VdGG's The Undercover Man and Still Life but in real life, I'd never have the cojones. What are yours?)
Finally!! 😂😂 (great intro. I'm talking about your video, JP! You're just great!) You just wait and see! It's definitely "when in the mood" album, and you'll barely repeat the experience. Unless you feel complete out of your mind (which I do more than the average) Put it aside, but you won't forget it. 😊
@@JustJP I know you do: you started with the first track, so we all know you'll continue. Can't wait. (don't forget to listen "the comet, the course, the tail" tied up to "Gog". They're not together like the Moody Blues do in most of their albums, but the end of the first is a mood you get to start the second and never fall in the abyss from the high, short wood bridge)
As a guy, I find your closeups disturbing. LUL (Just teasing. I hadn't a better joke.) This Peter Hammill was pleasant enough. Certainly not a '60s pop tune. : D
Hammill is a lifelong companion
Peter Hammill is my favorite lyricist and one of my top 5 favorite artists. Been a fan since 1989 when his back catalog albums started to become available on CD. You should do his song Flight from A Black Box. 19 minutes of pure Hammill bliss.
Flight is the masterpiece of that period. Funny how many of his works that word can be aptly applied to...
I agree that a review of his song "Flight" would be terrific. It is long, but rich in both style and substance. Personally, I think you will love it, JP! 😎
PH has an incredibly vast solo catalog, probably around 40 albums now. There is very little of it that is not of great quality, but I am an admitted fanboy of the highest order. For a real interesting listen, his opera based on Poe's The Fall Of The House Of Usher is fascinating.
I've just realized one thing. This song was first recorded in the first vdgg album.
(It was in fact a PH solo album, but due to contractual reasons, it must be put out under vdgg name. Even though all the members are there, which does not happen here...)
There, it was possibly a break-up love song. But now, it achieves a new meaning. And I think he chose it for one reason: the album is dedicated to his brother because - the wiki page doesn't explain it - during the recording, he had an accident and stayed in coma for some days.
And this is the reason, the basis - I think - that will explain how dark, philosophical and claustrophobic this album is.
It seems Peter Hammill got what he was asking for to write and compose such a unique album: Death and it's imminence.
PH is not a lyricist, he is more than a musician, he is a Poet. With capital letter.
You are now warned, JP.
Sorry. Or
Prepare yourself.
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! This is one of his very best solo albums. Definitely one of the best early ones, behind Silent Corner. It's a great choice. But when you do get back to VDGG, the debut is worth the listen for historic value, but you MUST hear The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, it's arguably one of their best, and a personal favorite. It's a change of flavor from the Godbluff trilogy, less epic with shorter songs, but violins and cellos, jazzy influences, and amazing songwriting. I think you'd love it - even more than In Camera, and certainly more than Aerosol Grey Machine. Think on it. In the mean time, enjoy this one - it's a real mind-bending workout, and a real treat! What a lovely lilting heart-tugging haunting opener this song is, so beautiful (I think ferret and featherbird are little personal totem characterizations of the lovers depicted in the song) - but get ready for some dark dirty psychedelia though...
Agree. SZ/PD is a great album, despite not having Banton and Jaxon. Graeme Smith and Charles Dickie fill in perfectly, and all the songs are first class (great to have Nic back too). PH performed many of them throughout the 80s/90s in his solo shows.
@@lemming9984 I saw that back in the 80's - they were amazing!
I approve and second these observations/recommendations. 'Quiet Zone' is a genre unto itself, and is one of their best. Oh, 'Vital' awaits as well. "We are the PiONEERS!!!"
I don't agree at all, David. QZ/PD may be a good album, and it is in his own and new approach, but it stays far behind, even from their second less best album (to me) : World Record. 😊
I could not agree more about Quiet Zone: a stunning work. Personally, I prefer Over to Silent Corner... until I listen to Silent Corner again....
One Hammill LP that doesn’t get enough love is his 1977 "breakup album", Over, maybe his strongest solo work front to back. I wouldn’t want to derail you from doing In Camera, but Over would be a good next listen!
Indeed: it his second best after this, in my opinion.
Do you like storytelling songs? There are two songs by a singer and composer called Chico Buarque here in Brazil that are linked and available on RUclips with on-screen translation, which is better because the focus is on the lyrics and the song accompanies them.
The first is 'DEUS LHE PAGUE', a song with tense instrumentation and as it grows, it becomes dissonant with the orchestration and voices. The second is 'CONSTRUÇÃO', he tells a story as a chronicler, and each time he repeats the same story, it becomes more surreal, ending in the first song.
Both are a type of Brazilian folk, with a mix of samba and bossa nova and orchestral arrangements, and the context is the shadow of a dictatorship in which the people are oppressed and have little value.
Something different to react to, if you want. And thanks for the fantastic reactions!
I'm a suspect (though I'm not an expert in Brazilian music), but those two songs are priceless. YOU MUST DO THEM, JP.
A great solo track from hammill is In the Black Room/The Tower from his second album Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night
that's my fave solo Hammill album
@@michaelhudson2912 that's my second best 😊
Thanks a lot, and happy to see you're back to PH! When I am in the mood for this album, I rarely listen to the first few pieces, although your reaction has kind of renewed my appreciation for this first one in particular -- it is just beautiful. There are some emotional rollercoasters coming up. Absolutely do listen to the BBC "live" versions of some of them, which is PH at his incredible best.
Thanks! I always enjoy a Hammill video and review. 😎
Have been a PH fan since '71. No one else like him. Nice to see this review. Back when you were doing a lot of Hammill Stuff, there was one song that you left out (I'm pretty sure). He did a song called Easy to Slip Away. It's actually a companion piece to VDGG's Refugees. Thanks for giving attention to a singer who deserves it.
At last! Weirdly enough I was thinking of mithering you again today by posting a comment on whatever you were reacting to asking when you were going to get round to do this great, great album... but no need, because here we are! I'm glad you like the first, and weakest, track. It is a gentle intro into a devastating piledriver of album.
Perfect timing 👌
Ahah, the weakest track 😊
I told you, JP...
Interesting that you should pick this album shortly after listening to Bowie’s - the Man Who Sold the World. Bowie’s album was recorded at the time his brother was undergoing intense psychiatric care while Hammill’s brother at the time of recording In Camera, was in a coma after having suffered an accident on his bike. Both albums are the two artist’s reactions to their brother’s plights.
I love this album.
Just another aspect, just one more and I'll shut my fingers up, I promise.
Since you mentioned the cover: the album cover is great, but to me the spirit of the album is best showed by the back cover photo.
I wish I someday have a poster of it, a big poster to cover the wall. 😊 (it's THAT significant)
Yes, the great thing about the back cover is the flash of blue jeans under all the gothic garb!
@@martinpaterson6535 for me it's that look and the cape. It says it all, if we can read it after experience the album. No more words needed.
Great intro!
Ty! 👁👁
Oh! I thought you had done this one but maybe it was someone else stunned by the closing Gog Magog (In Bromine Chambers) Meanwhile, this album, though once again challenging for the uninitiated, is one of his best. I love the basic song here and it's made even more interesting by the barely connected guitars/piano backing. In my dreams I nail a karaoke version of this track but how likely is that? (My other 'karaoke dreams' include VdGG's The Undercover Man and Still Life but in real life, I'd never have the cojones. What are yours?)
This is one of Hammill's more experimental albums. Yes, starts out gentle. Gothic and dark though. Hammill's intensity is present on other tracks.
Finally!!
😂😂
(great intro. I'm talking about your video, JP! You're just great!)
You just wait and see!
It's definitely "when in the mood" album, and you'll barely repeat the experience. Unless you feel complete out of your mind (which I do more than the average)
Put it aside, but you won't forget it. 😊
Looking forward to more!
@@JustJP
I know you do: you started with the first track, so we all know you'll continue. Can't wait.
(don't forget to listen "the comet, the course, the tail" tied up to "Gog".
They're not together like the Moody Blues do in most of their albums, but the end of the first is a mood you get to start the second and never fall in the abyss from the high, short wood bridge)
A good start to this overall, gothic sounding album ending with the wonderfully dark Gog/Magog - you'll need patience to get through Magog!
I'm excited for it😊
The next song is way better; this is an ok opener imho.
As a guy, I find your closeups disturbing. LUL (Just teasing. I hadn't a better joke.) This Peter Hammill was pleasant enough. Certainly not a '60s pop tune. : D
Yeah, he changed it a lot since his Aerosol Grey Machine version.